Castlevania Nocturne: A Guardian's Tale (Part 2)

A Horror Beyond Nightmares

I spent the next morning reinforcing my wards,  surveying the grounds of our houses and strengthening the spells already rooted within the earth. I wasn't alone, Emma accompanied me, contributing her voice and magic. Between the two of us, not even a fleaman cold hop within yards of the wards without incinerating.

"I thought night creatures were extinct." Emma murmured dourly, examining the earthen  glyphs.

"They were, until last night." I tapped my staff into the ground, activating the enhanced ward. "The last time I saw night creatures was before you were born."

Emma's eyes widened.  "That long ago?"

"Yes."

"Then there's hope, with your experience we can stop them."  She gestured her sword to the burned earth. "We've already proved ourselves  sending those beasts back below."

I couldn't help but smile. Always the optimist, my Emma Bee.

"It's not that simple." My smile faded as I continued reinforcing the wards. "Night creatures don't come from nowhere. They don't just  pop out of the ground like daises; They're made. Somebody's making them, and until we discover who it is and put a stop to them, we'll be fighting these demons until the Forgemaster's last breath."

"How do we find this Forgemaster?" Emma asked determined.

"The same way you'd find an angel. Once you know the indicators, you can easily identify one." I leaned against my staff with a tired huff. "I met a Forgemaster centuries ago when I traveled to Targoviste seeking the  cure for a deadly poison. Your father was bitten by a pestilent demon aptly known as a Plaguemaster, and the only thing that could save his life was Panacea Dust. I might have told you the story."

"You did." Emma nodded. "I always loved that story. Ironic isn't it,  your own daughter married a Whisperer alchemist and had a family with him?"

"Yes. Very." I chuckled. "I wouldn't have had it any other way. Cyrus was a good man, he loved you as much as your father and I do."

"He was....." Emma's voice trailed off before changing the subject. "How could you tell the Whisperer Elder was a Forgemaster?"

"I didn't at the time, but I recognized the signs later on. Forgemasters have a sickly look to them. When you deal with devil's  magic it poisons your soul, and that outwardly shows. Alethia had dark bruising marks on her face, but that isn't the main tell, however, it's the smell. Foregemasters have a rank, sulfurous smell to them. I call it the Hell Smell, because they accumulate it by summoning damned souls from Downstairs. Only the blood of the divine and humans exposed to magic over decades can detect it. If you're fortunate enough to be either, the scent's exactly like rotten eggs."

Emma's pupils shrunk.  "Mother....I think.." She was about to speak when she darted her sharp eyes to the path behind her.

"I thought you could use some help." Annette held a torch with Eduoard standing beside her. His limpid blue gaze focused on my daughter and I, as if he saw things inconceivable to the naked eye.

"Thank you, we appreciate it." I lowered my head respectfully. "But Arcane magic isn't exactly a common skill. We'd still enjoy the company." I smiled.

" I think  I can manage." The ground shifted around Annette as the soil darkened and spread  to the marked glyphs, intertwining with the circle like sand. She quietly chanted and I instantly sensed the ward's magic spread  beyond the marked dirt. I watched Annette astounded, through the very earth she had extended the spell to the surrounding area.  Not only were our houses now protected but the entire land around them.